# US 12,760,912 B2 · Integrated HVAC system with variable refrigerant flow unit and air handling unit > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,760,912 B2 - Document ID: US12760912B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/726,695 - Filed: 2023-01-03 - Published: 2025-03-13 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2022-01-03 - Assignees: Tyco Fire & Security GmbH - Applicants: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP - Inventors: Taufiq Ahmed Jeddy; Mohammed Sami Ahmed - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12760912B2 ## CPC - F24F 1/022: comprising a compressor cycle - F24F 1/029: characterised by the layout or mutual arrangement of components, e.g. of compressors or fans - F24F 1/0326: characterised by the arrangement of refrigerant piping outside the heat exchanger within the unit casing - F24F 11/88: Electrical aspects, e.g. circuits - F24F 13/20: Casings or covers - F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02) ## Abstract A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a variable refrigerant flow (VRF) unit including a variable speed compressor, a VRF heat exchanger, and a reversing valve of a vapor compression circuit. In addition, the HVAC system includes an air handling unit (AHU) including an AHU heat exchanger of the vapor compression circuit. Furthermore, the HVAC system includes a housing, wherein the VRF unit and the AHU are disposed within the housing, and wherein the variable speed compressor is configured to circulate a refrigerant through the VRF heat exchanger and the AHU heat exchanger, and the reversing valve is configured to adjust a flow direction of the refrigerant through the vapor compression circuit to adjust operation of the HVAC system between a cooling operation mode and a heating operation mode. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising: a first variable refrigerant flow (VRF) unit comprising a first variable speed compressor, a first VRF heat exchanger, and a first reversing valve of a vapor compression system; a second VRF unit comprising a second variable speed compressor, a second VRF heat exchanger, and a second reversing valve of the vapor compression system; an air handling unit (AHU) comprising an AHU heat exchanger of the vapor compression system; and a housing, wherein the first VRF unit, the second VRF unit, and the AHU are disposed within the housing, wherein the first variable speed compressor is configured to circulate a refrigerant through the first VRF heat exchanger and the AHU heat exchanger, the second variable speed compressor is configured to circulate the refrigerant through the second VRF heat exchanger and the AHU heat exchanger, and the first reversing valve and the second reversing valve are configured to adjust a flow direction of the refrigerant through the vapor compression system to adjust operation of the HVAC system between a cooling operating mode and a heating operating mode. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The HVAC system of claim 1, comprising a first expansion valve configured to adjust a first flow rate of the refrigerant through the vapor compression system. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The HVAC system of claim 2, comprising a metering valve configured to adjust a second flow rate of the refrigerant through the AHU heat exchanger. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The HVAC system of claim 1, wherein the first reversing valve and the second reversing valve are configured to direct the refrigerant through the vapor compression system in a first direction in the cooling operating mode and to direct the refrigerant through the vapor compression system in a second direction, opposite the first direction, in the heating operating mode. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The HVAC system of claim 4, wherein the AHU is configured to direct an air flow across the AHU heat exchanger and discharge the air flow directly into a conditioned space. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The HVAC system of claim 5, wherein the AHU heat exchanger is configured to enable transfer of heat from the air flow to the refrigerant in the cooling operating mode, and the AHU heat exchanger is configured to enable transfer of heat to the air flow from the refrigerant in the heating operating mode. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The HVAC system of claim 1, wherein the housing defines a VRF section comprising the first VRF unit and the second VRF unit, the housing defines an AHU section comprising the AHU, and the housing comprises a partition extending therethrough and separating the VRF section from the AHU section. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The HVAC system of claim 7, wherein the vapor compression system comprises a plurality of refrigerant tubes, and a refrigerant tube of the plurality of refrigerant tubes extends through the partition. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The HVAC system of claim 8, wherein the housing comprises one or more support brackets configured to couple at least one refrigerant tube of the plurality of refrigerant tubes of the vapor compression system to the housing. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The HVAC system of claim 7, wherein the vapor compression system comprises a separation tube configured to separate a first flow of the refrigerant from the AHU into a second flow of the refrigerant directed to the first VRF unit and a third flow of the refrigerant directed to the second VRF unit. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The HVAC system of claim 10, wherein the separation tube is disposed within the VRF section. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The HVAC system of claim 1, comprising a single power connection, wherein the single power connection is configured to receive electrical power from a power source and direct electrical power to the first VRF unit, the second VRF unit, and the AHU. ### Claim 13 A rooftop unit of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising: a housing defining a variable refrigerant flow (VRF) section and an air handling unit (AHU) section, wherein the housing comprises a partition extending therethrough and separating the VRF section and the AHU section; a vapor compression system, comprising: a first VRF unit comprising a first variable speed compressor, a first VRF heat exchanger, and a first reversing valve disposed within the VRF section; a second VRF unit comprising a second variable speed compressor, a second VRF heat exchanger, and a second reversing valve disposed within the VRF section; and an AHU comprising a first AHU heat exchanger and a second AHU heat exchanger disposed within the AHU section, wherein the first VRF unit, the second VRF unit, and the AHU are pre-packaged within the housing, the first reversing valve and the second reversing valve are configured to adjust a flow direction of a refrigerant through a refrigerant circuit of the vapor compression system to adjust operation of the vapor compression system between a heating mode and a cooling mode, and wherein each of the first AHU heat exchanger and the second AHU heat exchanger is configured to receive the refrigerant from the first VRF heat exchanger and the second VRF heat exchanger and place the refrigerant in a heat exchange relationship with an air flow, and the AHU section is configured to discharge the air flow into a conditioned space. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The rooftop unit of claim 13, wherein the vapor compression system comprises: a first metering valve associated with the first AHU heat exchanger and configured to adjust a first flow rate of the refrigerant through the first AHU heat exchanger; and a second metering valve associated with the second AHU heat exchanger and configured to adjust a second flow rate of the refrigerant through the second AHU heat exchanger. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The rooftop unit of claim 13, wherein the first AHU heat exchanger is configured to place the refrigerant in a respective heat exchange relationship with a first portion of the air flow, and the second AHU heat exchanger is configured to place the refrigerant in a respective heat exchange relationship with a second portion of the air flow. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The rooftop unit of claim 13, wherein the first AHU heat exchanger and the second AHU heat exchanger are arranged in a row split configuration. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The rooftop unit of claim 13, wherein the first variable speed compressor is configured to circulate the refrigerant through the first VRF unit and direct the refrigerant towards the first AHU heat exchanger and the second AHU heat exchanger, and wherein the second variable speed compressor is configured to circulate the refrigerant through the second VRF unit and direct the refrigerant towards the first AHU heat exchanger and the second AHU heat exchanger. ### Claim 18 A packaged unit of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising: a housing defining a variable refrigerant flow (VRF) section and an air handling unit (AHU) section, wherein the housing comprises a partition separating the VRF section and the AHU section; a vapor compression system, comprising: a refrigerant circuit configured to operate in a cooling mode to cool an air flow and to operate in a heating mode to heat the air flow; a plurality of VRF units disposed within the VRF section, wherein each VRF unit of the plurality of VRF units comprises a compressor, a first heat exchanger, and a reversing valve; and an AHU disposed within the AHU section, wherein the AHU comprises a second heat exchanger configured to place a refrigerant of the refrigerant circuit in a heat exchange relationship with the air flow, the second heat exchanger is configured to receive a flow of the refrigerant that comprises at least a portion of each respective flow of the refrigerant from each VRF unit of the plurality of VRF units, and the AHU is configured to discharge the air flow directly into a conditioned space. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The packaged unit of claim 18, wherein the VRF section and the AHU section are disposed in a side-by-side arrangement within the housing, such that a length of the VRF section, a length of the AHU section, and the partition extend in a common direction. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The packaged unit of claim 19, wherein the plurality of VRF units is positioned within the VRF section in a side-by-side arrangement, such that a respective length of each VRF unit of the plurality of VRF units extends cross-wise to respective lengths of the VRF section, the AHU section, and the partition.